Washington, D.C. — In a victory for organizing the progressive digital agencies ahead of midterm elections, workers at BattleAxe Digital have formed a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2336, joining thousands of workers who have organized with CWA’s Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA). BattleAxe Digital is a women-owned, full-service digital agency based in Washington, D.C., that boasts progressive clients, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Education Association (NEA), and several national unions.

“So many of us have backgrounds in union organizing or come from previously organized workplaces, and many of BattleAxe’s clients are unions themselves. Unionizing reflects the progressive values that BattleAxe has cultivated and stands as a testament to how much we all care about the work that we do,” said CWA Local 2336 member Neha Cremin, a senior creative associate at BattleAxe Digital. “My hope is that we can work with management during bargaining to standardize how policies are communicated and enforced in a first union contract to make sure that everyone has a reasonable workload and the support to succeed.”

Last month, worker-organizers at BattleAxe Digital presented management with a letter requesting voluntary recognition after a supermajority of their eligible co-workers signaled their desire to be represented by CWA. BattleAxe Digital voluntarily recognized the workers’ union within 24 hours. Voluntary recognition is a streamlined pathway to union recognition endorsed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In a first contract, BattleAxe Digital workers hope to secure fair compensation, transparency, accountability, economic security, and sustainable work. “This union is an investment in our coworkers, our future colleagues, and the continued success of BattleAxe Digital,” the letter reads.

“In our DC office, we have framed posters and campaign signs on the walls from the labor movement and their many-faceted fights for justice,” said CWA Local 2336 member Grace Duginski, a fundraising content specialist at BattleAxe Digital. “Our union will now allow us to build the kind of workplace that embraces and reflects our Democratic values, and empowers us all. Like our clients, we as workers care deeply about fighting for what’s right and winning by working together.”

“Collective bargaining is one of the best ways for employees and management to maintain an open, healthy dialogue about the workplace we share. When workers have a collective voice and a seat at the table, we can work together to address challenges, protect what’s working, and build a stronger workplace for everyone,” said CWA Local 2336 member Sam Tuero, a digital fundraising specialist at BattleAxe Digital. “My hope is that our union creates a lasting structure for that partnership at BattleAxe where employees feel heard and supported, and where we can keep doing the creative, meaningful work that makes BattleAxe special.”

“As we head into a critical midterm election, the people producing the creative, driving the fundraising, and running the digital campaigns for Democratic candidates and progressive causes deserve the same voice on the job that they're fighting for everyone else to have," said Melissa Smith-Kupihea, President of CWA Local 2336. "We're proud to welcome BattleAxe’s workers into CWA, and we stand with them as they head into bargaining for a first contract.”

For more union updates, follow BattleAxe Workers United-CWA on Instagram and X.

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About CODE-CWA

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

About CWA

The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

U.S. workers certify first recognized unit as global union movement builds across Wikimedia Foundation 

San Francisco, Calif. – U.S.-based workers at Wikimedia Foundation—the nonprofit organization that hosts Wikipedia and sister projects—have won their union election, voting overwhelmingly to join Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9415. The victory marks an important milestone in a global movement among Wikimedia Foundation workers to establish collective bargaining through the legal frameworks available in their respective countries.

U.S.-based workers began organizing as a part of the broader Wiki Workers United global union campaign of Wikimedia Foundation workers committed to strengthening worker voice, transparency, equity, and shared stewardship.

"The recognition of our union's first government-sanctioned bargaining unit is a huge milestone in our over ten-year journey to educate, agitate, and organize coworkers," said Bryan Davis, a WWU organizing committee and WWU-US/CWA member. "We continue our petition for recognition in the U.K. and hope to see more jurisdiction-specific units call for voluntary recognition in the coming weeks and months. Solidarity will continue to drive our discussions, planning, and actions as we begin working on our collective goals for contract bargaining to support all WMF workers regardless of legal jurisdiction, job duty, or hours of employment."

In July, U.S.-based workers demanded union recognition after a supermajority of them signed union authorization cards. When management refused to uphold the organization’s commitment to respect the rights of workers to freely choose union representation, workers persevered through a union election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

“Today’s victory is a demonstration of the power of international solidarity,” said Decovan Rhem, President of CWA Local 9415. “WWU-US/CWA members organized across their workplaces and across the world, building support among coworkers internationally and among an incredible community of volunteers and wiki editors. Now, we will take the power our members have built to the bargaining table to negotiate a strong contract that gives Wikimedia workers the voice they have long deserved.”

WWU extends its sincere gratitude to the Wikimedia volunteer community. Over 2,000 volunteers and community members who have collectively made more than 15 million edits have publicly signed petitions supporting Wikimedia Foundation workers and affirming the importance of giving workers a meaningful voice in shaping the future of the movement. This petition is the most supported petition in history on the English-language Wikipedia. The WWU Organizing Committee is deeply appreciative of this extraordinary demonstration of solidarity.

“Today's election result is a well-deserved victory not only for Wikimedia U.S. staff, but for everyone who believes in a free, democratic internet. I am proud to be among the 2,000 volunteer editors celebrating this achievement today,” said Shushugah, a volunteer Wikipedia editor since 2015 with over 14,000 global edits. 

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About CODE-CWA

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a union movement of thousands of workers fighting every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, games, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

Workers organizing with IUE-CWA Local 201 say investing in the workforce will strengthen the organization and its mission to serve the blind community.

BOSTON — Workers at National Braille Press (NBP) have publicly announced their effort to form a union with IUE-CWA Local 201, calling for a stronger voice on the job and improvements that they believe will help sustain both the workforce and NBP’s mission.

On Monday, workers marched together to NBP leadership to announce their union effort and call on the organization to voluntarily recognize their union. The effort has already won support from an overwhelming majority of the workforce.

Founded in 1927 and located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, and also employing some remote workers in Massachusetts and across the country, National Braille Press produces braille books, educational materials, and other resources that help expand access to information for blind and visually impaired people. Workers have formed a wall-to-wall union of approximately 35 staff, including production workers, press operators, transcribers, proofreaders, sales and development staff, administrative workers, and others.

Workers say they are organizing to address sustainable compensation, workplace health and safety, staffing and training, professional development, flexible working conditions and scheduling, and the need for a collective voice in decisions that affect their workplace.

At the heart of their effort is a shared belief that investing in NBP’s workforce will strengthen the organization itself. By improving retention, reducing turnover, strengthening morale, and creating a more sustainable workplace, workers believe they can help ensure NBP continues fulfilling its mission to serve the blind community.

The workers are asking National Braille Press to voluntarily recognize their union and meet them at the bargaining table in good faith.

Community members, union members, educators, librarians, publishing professionals, disability advocates, readers, and other supporters are invited to stand with NBP workers by signing an open letter in support of their union.

SIGN THE OPEN LETTER.

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As the Industrial Division of CWA, IUE-CWA represents a force of 150,000 active and retired members united collectively to seek dignity on the job and a secure future for ourselves, our children, and all future generations.

After three years of negotiations, CWA passenger service and ramp workers at Piedmont Airlines—a subsidiary of American Airlines—overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract. Highlights of the five-year contract include improved wages, with a 6 percent bonus upon ratification; expanded vacation and sick accrual time; improvements to overtime accrual; and more.

Bargaining for a new contract began in late 2023 and continued until negotiations deadlocked due to the company's miserly position​. The National Mediation Board assigned a federal mediator in early 2026 in response to the company’s failure to negotiate in good faith over wages. Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor contracts in the transportation industry, contracts do not expire but rather become “amendable,” and the process to strike is complicated.

“CWA members at Piedmont Airlines perform essential and often overlooked labor for one of the country’s most profitable airlines,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “This strong agreement is a reflection of our union’s commitment to fight for the indispensable workers that keep our nation’s flying public safe. I thank the members of our bargaining committee for their tremendous work and dedication on behalf of their fellow union members.”

“Throughout this lengthy process, in the face of the company penny-pinching at the bargaining table, CWA members at Piedmont Airlines understood that solidarity is our strongest tool at the table,” said CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos. “They remained united for a strong contract that delivers better wages and working conditions.”

Congratulations to our Piedmont CWA members!

Click here to read the full press release.

Last week, the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 32035) announced that The Washington Post columnist and founding editor of its Global Opinions section, Karen Attiah, could soon be returning to work after a nearly yearlong fight over two posts she made regarding racial double standards in the public response to political violence.

An independent arbitrator ruled that The Washington Post violated its collective bargaining agreement with the Guild when it fired Attiah in September 2025. The ruling vindicates the Guild's fight and orders the Post to reinstate Attiah with back pay and lost benefits.

Members of the Washington Post Guild stood in solidarity with Attiah throughout the fight—including with a broad letter-signing campaign and flyering outside Post events to push the company to do right by Attiah and honor their contract.

"This decision confirms what we've said from the start: I was doing my job as an opinion journalist, and doing that job is not misconduct," said Attiah. "After spending over a decade of my career at the Post as an editor and an opinion columnist focusing on race, gender, and global human rights, I’m relieved to finally have that record set straight. I am grateful to everyone at the News Guild and Democracy Defenders Fund who stood behind me through this nearly year-long battle. I hope that this win sends a message to journalists and media institutions everywhere that freedom of expression is always worth fighting for.”

Congratulations to Karen Attiah and all the members of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild for defending freedom and journalistic integrity.

Earlier this week, during the 2026 CWA District 3 Meeting, members, staff, and retirees rallied at the ADT Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., calling on management to “Respect Your Workers and Respect Our Union.” Members are bargaining contracts in CWA Districts 4 and 7, with another District 7 unit set to begin bargaining at the end of the year.

The group (pictured above) included NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss (second from left), CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam (third from left), CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce (front and center), and CWA Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton (second row, right of Arce). The photo was taken by TNG-CWA member Amy Beth Bennett with CWA Local 3108.

This rally comes after a heated dispute over ADT’s unilateral decision to install in-vehicle surveillance technology, including eyeball-monitoring cameras and microphones. Vice President Bolton, working closely with CWA members and officials—including CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson—staunchly defended our members and received confirmation from the company that the tech would not be installed in vehicles driven by union-represented workers.

Click here to sign a petition in support of your union siblings as they bargain with ADT.

Facing devastating cuts to their newsroom staff, workers at the suburban Chicago news outlet the Daily Herald announced last week their intention to form a union with The Chicago News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 34071). Workers include writers, editors, and photographers. The Daily Herald is owned by Tribune Publishing, a subsidiary of New York-based hedge fund Alden Global Capital.

Over the last 10 years, workers saw their wages reduced by at least 15 percent and their work week reduced to 36.5 hours. During that same approximate period, employees experienced eight rounds of buyouts and/or a combination of buyouts and layoffs, culminating on August 10 with the dismissal of 12 Daily Herald employees.

In response, an overwhelming majority of the editorial staff announced the establishment of the Daily Herald News Guild to secure competitive wages and pay equity, transparency, a strong voice in the future of their newsroom, and the ability to continue reporting on the suburban communities the paper has served for more than 150 years.

Workers submitted a petition for voluntary recognition by the company and have also filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The workers are happy to withdraw their NLRB request if management voluntarily recognizes the union.

Congratulations to these workers in their fight for a voice in their workplace.

Last week, CWA members, staff, and retirees joined thousands of labor and civil rights activists in Washington, D.C., for the 63rd Anniversary of the March on Washington, commemorating the historic voter and worker rights march led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s march, titled “March on Washington: Defend the Vote,” focused again on voting rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Louisiana vs. Callais ruling, which gutted voter protections.

The march was co-hosted by the National Action Network, led by Reverend Al Sharpton, and the Drum Major Institute, founded by Dr. King Jr. and currently led by his son, Martin Luther King III.

The Trump administration’s attempts to purge voter lists, encouragement of race-based gerrymandering in Republican-led states, attacks on voting by mail, election denialism, and insistence on voter fraud despite bipartisan agreement to the contrary amount to a concerted effort to undermine election integrity ahead of the November midterm elections. With working people facing an affordability crisis, President Trump’s approval rating is among the lowest for any second-term president. Should Democrats regain control of the House, many of his initiatives could face serious scrutiny.

March participants vowed to continue their vocal opposition to any tampering with the U.S. voter system or the disenfranchisement of voters.

 
At the 63rd Anniversary of the historic March on Washington, (left to right) CWA President Claude Cummings Jr.; National Field Coordinator, Legislative, Political and Human Rights Department Charlie Ramos Jr.; CWA Legislative Advisor Tysianna Marina; CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam; and CWA Senior Technical Specialist Niousha Farhangi joined other CWA members, staff, and retirees, along with thousands of civil and labor rights activists, to denounce the Trump administration’s undermining of our election integrity.

Three years after negotiations with American Airlines subsidiary Piedmont Airlines began, union members achieve annual raises, expanded vacation, and overtime accrual through unwavering solidarity

NATIONWIDE – Piedmont Airlines passenger service and ramp workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new union contract covering 7,500 workers across the country.

The five-year contract includes a signing bonus with yearly wage increases throughout the life of the contract, expanded vacation and overtime accrual, and more.

Negotiations for a new contract began in late 2023 and continued until negotiations deadlocked and a federal mediator from the National Mediation Board was assigned in early 2026 in response to the company’s failure to negotiate in good faith over wages. Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor contracts in the transportation industry, contracts do not expire but rather become “amendable,” and the process to strike is lengthy.

“Throughout this lengthy process, in the face of the company penny-pinching at the bargaining table, CWA members at Piedmont Airlines understood that solidarity is our strongest tool at the table,” said Sylvia J. Ramos, CWA Chief of Staff. “They remained united for a strong contract that delivers better wages and working conditions.”

“CWA members at Piedmont Airlines perform essential and often overlooked labor for one of the country’s most profitable airlines,” said Claude Cummings Jr., President of CWA. “This strong agreement is a reflection of our union’s commitment to fight for the indispensable workers that keep our nation’s flying public safe. I thank the members of our bargaining committee for their tremendous work and dedication on behalf of their fellow union members.”

CWA members at Piedmont Airlines—a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines—support safe and efficient departures by assisting with pre-flight check-in, loading and unloading baggage, guiding planes on the tarmac, and ensuring aircraft are inspected before departure.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields, including more than 20,000 passenger service agents who work for American Airlines and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Envoy Air and Piedmont Airlines.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is proud to endorse Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate representing Michigan.

The following statement is from CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton:

CWA members in Michigan stand with Abdul El-Sayed because we know he has our backs and will fight for the right of every worker to join a union. When working families see everything getting more expensive, Abdul stands with us, championing legislation to lower prices by cracking down on corporate price-gouging. Abdul has led the fight for Medicare for All and has strongly opposed legislation that would put our hospitals at risk of closing to pay for more tax cuts for billionaires. Abdul is the leader we need in the Senate to stand up to the billionaires and bullies.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion